Match 12: Central Missouri (9-1-1, 4-0-1 MIAA) vs. Central Oklahoma (6-3-2, 3-0-2 MIAA)
Friday, Oct. 9 | 6 p.m. | Warrensburg, Mo. (South Recreation Complex)
Live Video (PPV) |
Live Stats
Match 13: Central Missouri vs. Northeastern State (6-3-2, 2-2-1 MIAA)
Sunday, Oct. 11 | 1 p.m. | Warrensburg, Mo. (South Recreation Complex)
Live Video (PPV) |
Live Stats
Buy Tickets |
2026 Jennies Soccer Roster |
2026 Central Oklahoma Roster |
2026 Northeastern State Roster
Scene Setter
- University of Central Missouri Jennies Soccer (9-1-1, 4-0-1 MIAA) is back home at the South Recreation Complex in Warrensburg to host the Central Oklahoma Bronchos (6-3-2, 3-0-2 MIAA) and Northeastern State RiverHawks (6-3-2, 2-2-1 MIAA) in a pair of MIAA matches on Friday, Oct. 9, and Sunday, Oct. 11. UCM is slated to host the Bronchos at 6 p.m. on Friday before welcoming the RiverHawks for a 1 p.m. contest on Sunday.
- The Jennies are coming off a 1-0-1 week last week, winning at MoWest on Oct. 2, 2-1, before playing to a 1-1 tie at Northwest Missouri State on Oct. 4.
- Through 11 matches, the Jennies are paced offensively by sophomore midfielder Coryn Jespersen (3 G, 10 A, 16 Pts., 21 Shots, .143 shot percentage, 12 SOG, .571 SOG percentage, 2 game-winning goal) and senior forward Mikayla Ernst (5 G, 10 Pts., 27 shots, .185 shot percentage, 18 SOG, .667 SOG percentage, 2 game-winning goal). Senior goalkeeper Kristen Wright (9-1-1, 3 GA, 0.29 goals-against average, 21 SV, .875 save percentage, 5 shutouts, 3 combined shutouts, 70 shots faced, 925:44 minutes) leads UCM between the posts.
- Through 11 matches, the Jennies lead the MIAA in scoring with 30 goals and rank second in goals allowed, giving up just three goals on the season so far. Individually, Coryn Jespersen leads the MIAA and is third in NCAA Division II with 10 assists. She also paces the conference with 16 points. Kristen Wright is second in goals-against average at 0.29, third in shutouts per game (.455), and fourth in saves (.875 save percentage).
- UCM was picked third in the 2026 MIAA Women's Soccer Preseason Coaches' Poll.
Ernst Garners MIAA Offensive Athlete of the Week Honors
- Forward Mikayla Ernst was voted the MIAA Women's Soccer Offensive Athlete of the Week for her performance on the soccer pitch during the week of Sept. 28 through Oct. 4, the conference office announced late Tuesday afternoon, Oct. 6.
- Ernst helped the Jennies extend their unbeaten streak to eight matches after a 2-1 win at Missouri Western State University on Friday, Oct. 2, and a 1-1 tie against the Northwest Missouri State Bearcats on Sunday, Oct. 4.
- Ernst netted what proved to be the game-winning goal in the 70th minute of UCM's victory at MoWest Friday before tallying the game-tying goal in the 62nd minute on Sunday at Northwest Missouri State.
- On the season, she leads the Jennies with five goals, including two game-winning goals, and is second in points with 10.
Previous MIAA Weekly Honors
Record Watch
- Coryn Jespersen is already tied for third in Jennies single-season history with her 10 assists this season. She is six assists from tying the program single-season record of 16 set by Kassie Newsom in 2021.
- Kristen Wright is third in career saves with 251 in 75 career contests.
Last Time Out: Jennies, Northwest Missouri Play to 1-1 Tie Sunday
- No. 18-ranked University of Central Missouri Jennies Soccer and the Northwest Missouri State Bearcats played to a 1-1 tie in a MIAA match played at Bearcat Pitch on Sunday afternoon, Oct. 4.
- Northwest Missouri State gained an early 1-0 advantage with a goal 11 minutes into the match.
- Central Missouri found an equalizer in the 62nd minute when Mikayla Ernst netted her team-high fifth goal of the season on a shot from the right side of the field near the top of the box.
- UCM goalkeeper Kristen Wright (9-1-1) went the full 90 minutes between the posts, giving up one goal while making five saves, while Northwest Missouri goalkeeper Leyah Scott posted seven saves and surrendered one goal in 90 minutes.
- For the match, the Jennies outshot the Bearcats, 15-8, including an 8-6 advantage in shots on goal. UCM also bested NWMSU in corner kicks, 7-4.
Home Sweet Home
- Dating back to the 2016 season, the Jennies are 95-9-3 at the South Recreation Complex. During that span, UCM has surrendered just 72 goals.
- All-time at the South Recreation Complex, UCM is 170-19-10 under head coach Lewis Theobald and 234-40-11 in overall program history. The Jennies have compiled undefeated home records five times.
- The 2026 season will mark a new era for Jennies Soccer at the South Recreation Complex, as UCM will play on a new, state-of-the-art turf playing surface that was installed during the summer of 2026.
Series History
- Central Oklahoma: The Jennies and Bronchos will meet for the 32nd time in the all-time series Friday evening in Warrensburg. UCM leads the series, 18-8-5. Last season, Central Missouri went 0-1-1 against UCO, playing to a 0-0 tie in Edmond, Okla., on Oct. 17, 2025, before falling to Central Oklahoma, 2-1, in the MIAA Tournament Quarterfinals on Nov. 9 in Warrensburg.
- Northeastern State: Sunday's match against the RiverHawks will be meeting number 21 in the all-time series. Central Missouri leads the series, 16-2-2. Last season, the Jennies and NSU played to a 1-1 tie in Tahlequah, Okla., on Sept. 26.
New Faces for 2026
Head Coach Lewis Theobald
Lewis Theobald, now in his 19th year, has transformed the Jennies Soccer program into one of the premier programs not only in the MIAA but also in NCAA Division II.
The 11-time MIAA and five-time region Coach of the Year has an impressive 328-58-32 record. He recorded more wins in his first three seasons than any other coach in school history and is the all-time winningest coach in both Jennies soccer and MIAA women's soccer history. He brought home the program's first-ever National Championship in the 2017 season.
Theobald enters the 2026 season as the winningest active coach in Division II women's soccer with an .822 winning percentage, among coaches with at least five years on the sidelines. He is also the all-time D-II leader among coaches with at least 10 years and is fifth all-time in all NCAA Divisions.
During his tenure, Theobald has coached 23 All-Americans in
Mikayla Ernst,
Ashleigh Martin, Andree Orcutt, Lindsay Edmonds, Julia Kristensen, Kassie Newsom, Caroline Cole, Ana Dilkes, Emily Eldridge, Baylie Edwards, Randi Fernsler, Allysa Gann, Kayla Hamner, Julie Ireland, Becky Lackey, Cindy Lackey, Abby Rhodes, Alyssa Rhodes, Jada Scott, Carly Stanley, Jenna Stones, Makayla Toth and Megan Woolley and has led 63 players to All-Region status. He also coached Dilkes, a goalkeeper, to a National Player of the Year honor during the 2017 season.
He has coached 148 All-Conference players, including Most Valuable Players Melanie Hall, Kayla Shain and two-time Player of the Year Alyssa Rhodes; Offensive Players of the Years Carly Stanley, Julie Ireland, Jada Scott, Kassie Newsom and Julia Kristensen; Freshmen of the Year Alyssa Rhodes, Stanley, Hannah Pyle, Alexis Robbers, Nicki Wisnasky, Caroline Cole, Julia Kristensen and
Izzy Joyce; Defenders of the Year, Emily Eldridge, Allysa Gann, Cindy Lackey and Abby Rhodes; two-time Goalkeeper of the Year Lindsey Johnson and four-time Goalkeeper of the Year Ana Dilkes.
A 1999 graduate of the University of Kansas, Theobald received his bachelor's degree in education with a concentration in physical education.
On the Horizon
The Jennies travel to Claremore, Okla., for an MIAA match at Rogers State on Oct. 16 before hosting Emporia State in Warrensburg on Oct. 18.
